We've all heard horror stories of houses sending "boilerplate" (they aren't) contracts to unagented writers that ruin careers--or make them an uphill battle. Before today, I'd seen some that are not ideal, but not that shocking.
You should always read everything in every document before signing it--especially when it has to do with the future of your career--and the vast majority of those documents are up for discussion, whether they're your Author-Agent Agreement (one would hope you'd feel comfortable enough discussing these things with your future agent), your book contract--even your rental agreement.
Because they know I'm curious--and/or because they are unagented writers who have the general sense something is wrong but can't pinpoint it--people sometimes send me contracts, or clauses, to look at. I kind of like them, in a geeky way. (I also always offer to look at friends' leases before they sign them, but that might just be part of the requisite NYC real estate obsession.)
But today I saw a book contract that I promptly annotated with "WTF"--twice. Other notes included an exclamation point that is 1.4 inches tall, two "whoa"s--and a lot of crossings-out.
So, yes. They're not an urban legend. They do exist.
And, quite thankfully, that writer will--perhaps partially as a result of my rather impolite annotations--be just fine.
1 comment:
Hi GK! How amazing/kind of you to offer your own time to help a writer for no other reason than the act itself.
For obvious reasons, the contract is so crucial to writers, in my mind, it only underscores the importance for authors to have good agents. I mean, after the benefits of complimentary personalities linked by a common vision, industry contacts, experience, marketing prowess, edits, and copy edits THEN there is also the ability to negotiate legal contracts in-house.
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